Vertical
Window Blinds and Lighting in the Workplace UK

Vertical
window blinds are a fantastic and low cost way to keep lighting
at the correct level in the workplace. For instance, The Royal
Institute of Chartered Surveyors report that for staff to
work effectively at CRT VDT terminals (cathode ray tube visual
display terminals - which a lot of businesses still have),
they do at least require, and are legally entitled to be offered
as a workable environment lighting levels of about 300 to
500 lux. Adjusting the louvres
on the vertical blinds to the just the right angle will help
to avoid glare and create the right general level of lighting
in the workplace to begin with, before any localised lighting
is involved. European health and safety directives concerning
lighting in the workplace are have three relevant regulations.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
basically states that there has to be adequate lighting in
the workplace with no shadows or glare, thereby avoiding the
risk of people tripping or slipping. Once again, vertical
window blinds can be angled to stop glare from the sun,
but still let in enough light to prevent shadowy areas.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
is partly based around the theory that people in the workplace
are happier if they can see the surroundings outside. The
regulations state that there should be the provision of suitable
and sufficient lighting through natural (day)light. Vertical
window blinds can be angled to let in just the right amount
of natural daylight evenly across the window, and allow views
of the outside surroundings.

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment (DSE)) Regulations
1992 talk about reflections and glare properties on the computer
screens, the levels in the immediate surroundings, and the
fact that operators don’t suffer discomfort from reflections
and glare. Vertical window blinds can cut out the glare and
allow enough light into the immediate surroundings, particularly
if operators are near to the window area.

The CIBSE Guide F Energy efficiency in buildings say that,
energy efficient lighting should maximise natural daylight,
avoid unnecessarily high illuminance. Lighting can account
for over 40% of electricity costs in naturally-ventilated
offices. Having the kind of good, natural lighting that vertical
window blinds in the workplace offer can reduce running
costs, and reduce internal heat gains, thus reducing the need
for air conditioning.

Building Regulations Approved Documents L1/L2 state that lighting
systems should be reasonably efficient and make effective
use of daylight where appropriate. Vertical window blinds
can help business to achieve the balance between energy efficiency
and the right amount of light, thus having a positive effect
on employee efficiency and effectiveness.

There is an important EC Directive which relate to blinds
in the working environment. The Construction Products Directive
applies to blinds and their safety in use i.e. vertical blinds
should be designed and installed so that there are no unacceptable
risks in service or operation. Blind Corner have been trading
in the vertical window blinds arena for over thirty-five years in the
UK, and all blinds are manufactured to meet the highest safety
standards and directives.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)
recommends that "pull cords on curtains and blinds should
be kept short and kept out of reach" of children. In
the workplace, this could be relevant to e.g. nursery schools,
schools or playgroups. Vertical blind operating systems are
flexible enough to accommodate this recommendation.